Those who most obstinately oppose the most widely-held opinions more often do so because of pride than lack of intelligence. They find the best places in the right set already taken, and they do not want back seats.

Only strong natures can really be sweet ones; those that seem sweet are in general only weak, and may easily turn sour.

We often are consoled by our want of reason for misfortunes that reason could not have comforted.

It is easier to appear worthy of a position one does not hold, than of the office which one fills.

Selfishness is the grand moving principle of nine-tenths of our actions.

However evil men may be they dare not be openly hostile to virtue, and so when they want to attack it they pretend to find it spurious , or impute crimes to it.

Eloquence: saying the proper thing and stopping.